Lydia caught her breath. She said:
‘No, it was not a nice Christmas…’
II
Harry said:
‘Well, goodbye, Alfred. Don’t suppose you’ll be troubled by seeing much of me. I’m off to Hawaii. Always meant to live there if I had a bit of money.’
Alfred said:
‘Goodbye, Harry. I expect you’ll enjoy yourself. I hope so.’
Harry said rather awkwardly:
‘Sorry I riled you so much, old man. Rotten sense of humour I’ve got. Can’t help trying to pull a fellow’s leg.’
Alfred said with an effort:
‘Suppose I must learn to take a joke.’
Harry said with relief:
‘Well—so-long.’
III
Alfred said:
‘David, Lydia and I have decided to sell up this place. I thought perhaps you’d like some of the things that were our mother’s—her chair and that footstool. You were always her favourite.’
David hesitated a minute. Then he said slowly:
‘Thanks for the thought, Alfred, but do you know, I don’t think I will. I don’t want anything out of the house. I feel it’s better to break with the past altogether.’
Alfred said:
‘Yes, I understand. Maybe you’re right.’
IV
George said:
‘Well, goodbye, Alfred. Goodbye, Lydia. What a terrible time we have been through. There’s the trial coming on, too. I suppose the whole disgraceful story is bound to come out—Sugden being—er—my father’s son. One couldn’t arrange for it to be put to him, I suppose, that it would be better if he pleaded advanced Communist views and dislike of my father as a capitalist—something of that kind?’
Lydia said:
‘My dear George, do you really imagine that a man like Sugden would tell lies to soothe our feelings?’
George said:
‘Er—perhaps not. No, I see your point. All the same, the man must be mad. Well, goodbye again.’
Magdalene said:
‘Good bye. Next year do let’s all go to the Riviera or somewhere for Christmas and be really gay.’
George said: